Neighbors, city police gather in West Center City for National Night Out

West Center City, one of the neighborhoods hardest hit in Wilmington's surge of shootings, was the setting for the city's annual Night Out anti-crime event. One resident called it a start.
William Bretzger/The News Journal

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Children investigate a Wilmington Police armored vehicle as city officials and police mingle with community members during Wilmington's National Night Out celebration Tuesday at Helen Chambers Park.(Photo: William Bretzger, The News Journal)Buy Photo

It's what Kevin F. Kelley Sr., director of Wilmington’s Department of Parks and Recreation feels will always bring community members to the city's parks. In Wilmington’s West Center City Tuesday, National Night Out - an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie - served as the perfect example.

“It’s a night about trying to take back our neighborhoods,” Kelley said. “It’s also telling police ‘we support them,’ and doing more for our young people to keep them off the streets and give them a place to go.”

This past weekend, six more incidents of gun violence over two days, brought the city's number of shooting victim to 129. Kelley believes sports is a way to see that number decrease.

At National Night Out, he put that theory to the test.

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Wilmington police Sr. Cpl. Andrew Conine lets neighborhood kids get a close look at his canine partner Exo during Wilmington's National Night Out celebration Tuesday at Helen Chambers Park.(Photo: William Bretzger, The News Journal)

The excitement was aplenty when Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki journeyed back to his football playing days at the University of Delaware and joined kids for a pickup game of flag football. Joining him was Wilmington Police chief Robert Tracy, who wouldn't let a suit and tie get in the way of him throwing long bombs down the field.

It’s his mission, he says, to make himself and his city officers more accessible to the community.

“I want my officers out of their cars, with their hats on, walking the community in the areas members want us in and attending every community meeting, where members get to know not just 12 community officers but all 314, starting with me.”

Sr. Cpl. Michael Coleman, a 9 ½ year veteran with the Police Department, said he was happy that the event was moved to Helen Chamber’s Park in Wilmington West Center City. He said it's part of a law enforcement and city-wide initiative to focus on the deep-rooted issues plaguing the area.

For Coleman, he agrees that taking a simplistic approach as it pertains to youth outreach is as easy as getting out of the patrol car and starting a conversation with kids.

“It’s not a hard fix," he said. "What’s hard is buying in.”

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An armored police vehicle is among the displays during Wilmington's National Night Out celebration Tuesday at Helen Chambers Park.(Photo: William Bretzger, The News Journal)

Wilmington's National Night Out offered kids the opportunity to view some of the city's police equipment up close. Eyes widened as a perfectly trained K-9 answered the commands of Sr. Cpl Andrew Conine. Kids honked with approval as officers led them on a tour inside of a Wilmington Police armored vehicle or when standing next to a city police motorcycle.

Simone Cole was happy to see the Police Department allow kids to enjoy their equipment. It was one of the many reasons the mother of three said she felt the event was the positive boost of energy the community needed.

"Doing something like this, I think gives you an opportunity to see the officers in a different light," she said. "You get to see the officers fun and silly. They let their guards down and we let our guards down. And now when you see the officers out on the street, it helps you to be able to say ‘Ok, you know what, I can approach them and not have any issues.’”

Cole's 10-year-old son Teejay and his 8-year-old younger brother Raheem both said the event was '"fun" and "exciting," for kids their age. Cole said she hopes community engaging events like National Night Day occur in the city more often.

Added Cole: "And I think when they do it, I'm going to invite a lot of other people because I think it's good. It's really good for the community."